Nevada author publishes two-volume history of Virginia City and the Comstock
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sat, 09/28/2024 - 1:14pm
Nevada author Stephen H. Provost explores the history of one of the West’s most fascinating frontier regions in his new two-volume set on Virginia City and the Comstock Lode.
"Virginia City Then & Now" explores on Virginia City and the surrounding area through the lenses of cameras past and present, from the Comstock Era to the 21st century. The author uses hundreds of historical and contemporary photos to tell the story of the Comstock’s growth, decline and modern renaissance.
Images of saloons, mines, businesses, churches, and other landmarks are displayed side by side to illustrate how the region has changed over the years. Readers can witness the Comstock’s evolution from silver mining boomtown through years of neglect in the mid-20th century to its rebirth as a National Monument that draws thousands of visitors each year.
"The Comstock Chronicles: Sagebrush, Silver, and the Rise of Virginia City" tells the story of the biggest silver mining boom ever. It covers the period from 1850 to 1880, when silver was king. The author uses a chronological format to trace the development of Virginia City, Gold Hill, and the surrounding area, while touching on true tales of the intrigue and inspiration, comedy and tragedy that occurred along the way.
Larger-than-life figures share these pages with the thousands of miners and dreamers who came west looking to make their fortune. You’ll read about Mark Twain and Dan De Quille, pioneers of “sagebrush journalism”; about movers and shakers like William Sharon, George Hearst, and the tunnel-building Adolph Sutro; gunslingers like “Farmer Peel”; saloon owners, firefighters, and ladies of the evening.
"The Comstock Chronicles," with a foreword by respected historian, author, and journalist Richard Moreno, is the story of Nevada’s birth and unruly childhood: a story retold to preserve the memories of a time when the West was still wild and dreams were cast in silver.
A former editor, reporter, and columnist with more than 30 years of experience at daily newspapers, Carson City resident Stephen H. Provost is the author of more than 50 books, including several on Nevada history.
In addition to this new two-volume set, his works include "Goldfield Century," "Carson City Century," and "Mark Twain’s Nevada," as well as historical travelogues along "America’s Loneliest Road" (U.S. Highway 50), the "Bonanza Highway" (U.S. 95), "Victory Road" (Interstate 80), and the "Sierra Highway" (U.S. 395) in Nevada.
He is also the author of fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as the "Nightmare’s Eve" series of short-story collections with his wife, Sharon Marie Provost, on Dragon Crown Books. All his books are available on Amazon, and many are also available locally. You can find his new two-book series at https://shorturl.at/O6fnr.
